Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 9
Dhruva Uses the Nārāyaṇāstra; Manu Checks His Wrath and Teaches Dharma
नन्वेकस्यापराधेन प्रसङ्गाद् बहवो हता: । भ्रातुर्वधाभितप्तेन त्वयाङ्ग भ्रातृवत्सल ॥ ९ ॥
nanv ekasyāparādhena prasaṅgād bahavo hatāḥ bhrātur vadhābhitaptena tvayāṅga bhrātṛ-vatsala
愛する息子よ、あなたが兄弟に対して深い愛情を抱き、彼がヤクシャたちに殺されたことを深く悲しんでいることは証明された。しかし、よく考えてみなさい。一人のヤクシャの罪のために、あなたは罪のない多くの他の者たちを殺してしまったのだ。
FAQs
This verse highlights the injustice and karmic danger of collective retaliation—many can suffer due to one offender, so a devotee is urged to act with discernment and compassion rather than rage.
Dhruva reflects on how his grief over Uttama’s death led to excessive violence against the Yakshas, acknowledging that many were killed merely as a consequence of one person’s offense.
Avoid punishing groups for an individual’s mistake, pause when acting from grief or anger, and choose measured responses grounded in dharma and empathy.